Relationship Advice: 4 Tips for a Healthy Marriage

Often when people come seeking relationship advice in Portland marriage counseling, they want a quick fix. Some simple tips they can take home with them to make their problems better. Of course, many issues aren’t that easy to fix. They take time and require both partners to learn better communication skills. But there are a few simple tips I believe any relationship can benefit from that you can start putting into action today. Doing so can help ensure you give your marriage the time and protection it needs to go the distance.

Schedule regular date nights. This is a piece of relationship advice I’ve offered on this blog many times before, and that’s because it’s so important to stay in touch with your partner. Remember, it’s not about what you do or how much you spend. It’s just about taking the time to be together and have a good time.

Take vacations just the two of you. Think of it is an extended date night. It doesn’t have to be long. Just a weekend will do, but make a point to spend some time alone, just the two of you, away from the distractions of daily life and the interruptions of your children. Plus, the grandparents will enjoy some time alone with the kids.

Schedule intimacy. This becomes particularly important if you have children. Maybe before it was not something you needed to worry about. You just made time when the mood struck. But once kids enter the picture, you may become too busy and exhausted to really notice how much your love life has suffered. If scheduling lovemaking doesn’t seem romantic to you, consider that you are making a commitment to keeping the love alive in your relationship. What’s not romantic about that?

Set boundaries with the opposite sex. Don’t spend time alone with members of the opposite sex, and step back from any relationships that get close to an emotional affair. Intentionally maintaining this distance, even when our relationship is strong, can help you to avoid temptation when you go through a rough patch.

Having a healthy marriage means investing time and making the right decision along the way. If you are having trouble or haven’t been taking these steps to protect your marriage, you can get relationship advice in Portland marriage counseling.